Chapter 26: Reunion After 10 Years!_1
Ruyi Tower, Condensing Immortal Pavilion.
Lu Changsheng, Li Feiyu, Hong Yi, Han Lin, Xiao Xi Yue, and Zhao Qingqing, the six of them reunited after three years.
Over the span of three years, everyone had stepped from the secular world onto the path of cultivation, all experiencing significant changes.
"Miss Xiao, in the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme, so you naturally deserve to take the seat of honor,"
Hong Yi said to Xiao Xi Yue with enthusiasm.
This enthusiasm was not as fervent as it had been three years ago, carrying a hint of pursuit.
It was now like the hearty warmth between friends.
Because Hong Yi knew very well that now, he simply did not match up to Xiao Xi Yue.
He hadn't won her over three years ago, and to now reveal a longing pursuit was nothing but self-humiliation; he wouldn't even be able to maintain a friendship.
"If Marquis says so, then I won't be polite,"
After a slight refusal, Xiao Xi Yue no longer declined politely.
Three years ago, her personality was candid and lively, and after three years, she hadn't changed much in that regard, becoming even more bright and generous.
"Changsheng Bro, you've changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you!"
"Hearing from the Marquis, you and Brother Li are serving as live-in sons-in-law in a cultivation family. Seems like life's been good, huh?"
At this moment, Han Lin said to Lu Changsheng in a casual way.
Back then, among the six of them, Xiao Xi Yue was the esteemed lady with a keen interest in the Jianghu life, often chatting with Li Feiyu about it, hence their relatively good rapport.
As for Han Lin and Lu Changsheng, they had similar backgrounds and personalities, resulting in a good friendship.
"It's just that I've practiced cultivation, so some changes are normal,"
Lu Changsheng said with a smile, appearing quite magnanimous.
Although his own change was significant, it was pretty much related to the Immortal Beauty Technique.
But as described by the Immortal Beauty Technique, in the end, it was all because of his own good foundation; there was nothing to feel embarrassed about.
"This isn't just a little change; your transformation is even bigger than mine,"
"They say girls become unrecognizable after their eighteenth year, could it be there's something like boys transforming after twenty too?"
Xiao Xi Yue chided playfully.
Three years ago, she was already beautiful as a flower under the moon, and now, after another three years, she had fully blossomed.
Indeed, her grace outshone the flowers in their beauty, her features were more vibrant than spring itself, and every frown and smile bewitching the heart and soul.
This made Lu Changsheng, despite having nine wives and concubines, take a few more glances at her.
After all, not only was Xiao Xi Yue exceptionally beautiful, but she also possessed a Fourth Grade Spiritual Root.
If she could bear him a few children, there was not only a high probability of birthing offspring with Spiritual Roots but also a chance of producing children with Middle Grade Spiritual Roots.
However, the idea of a Fourth Grade Spiritual Root Immortal Sect disciple bearing children for him was just unrealistic.
Probably, he could only accomplish that in his dreams for a long while.
"If there is such a thing as a girl blossoming at eighteen, then surely there is also a lad transforming at twenty, and I am definitely an example,"
Lu Changsheng replied with a smile, his gaze clear and holding neither subservience nor arrogance.
With the confidence given by the system, Lu Changsheng could now face anyone with equanimity and treat everyone equally.
You have talent? I have a system!
You have a background? I have a system!
You have strength? I have a system!
So, we are all more or less the same.
You are graced with talent and background, promising a limitless future.
I am accompanied by a system, and as long as I work hard, I am sure to achieve something great in the future too!
Soon after, in this familiar atmosphere, everyone quickly started to make small talk.
However, it was mainly Hong Yi and Xiao Xi Yue starting conversations and looking for topics.
Lu Changsheng and Han Lin were the types to respond when asked, chiming in when the topic interested them.
Li Feiyu and Zhao Qingqing, on the other hand, spoke relatively little, only speaking up when asked.
In the process of this conversation, everyone mentioned their recent situations, allowing Lu Changsheng to gain some understanding of everyone's circumstances.
Though Hong Yi was the son of a Marquis from the Ruyi Prefecture, with a Third Level Energy Refinement cultivation three years ago, he hadn't had access to many cultivation resources over the years and had to earn them through his own efforts, so he was still at the peak of the Third Level Energy Refinement without having made a breakthrough.
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This also made Lu Changsheng realize that the bottleneck from the Third Level Energy Refinement to the Fourth Level was much more difficult than he had imagined.
Due to Xiao Xiyue's Fourth Grade Spiritual Root, upon entry into the Qingyun Sect she was immediately favored by an elder and became an Inner Sect Disciple, and is now at the Fourth Level Energy Refinement Cultivation Level.
Han Lin and Zhao Qingqing, although also disciples of Qingyun Sect, had ordinary Spiritual Roots and were only Outer Sect Disciples, a world apart from Xiao Xiyue.
Inner Sect Disciples could focus solely on cultivation, but Outer Sect Disciples had to spend time learning a skill in addition to their cultivation.
Because the Sect advocated for complementary advantages and mutual assistance, the internal division of labor was precise.
Some excelled in combat, others in formation, alchemy, artifact refining, talisman making, cultivating spiritual fields, growing spiritual medicine...
Disciples with good talent naturally focused on cultivation.
Those with average talent would see if they had a knack for something else.
Coming from a family of blacksmiths, Han Lin chose Artifact Refining as his skill.
His talent in that area was not bad either, and he was currently apprenticing under an Artifact Refiner.
As for his Cultivation Level, he was at the peak of the Second Level Energy Refinement.
Zhao Qingqing chose to apprentice as a Pharmacist for her skill.
Her Cultivation Level was a bit higher than Han Lin's, having already broken through to the Third Level Energy Refinement.
After hearing everyone's recent updates, Lu Changsheng knew that the gap between the Immortal Sect disciples and himself was not as big as he had imagined.
However, he knew this was just the beginning.
Over time, the gap between them would gradually widen.
"Changsheng, you truly deserved to be the first to awake at the 'Test of Conscience' during the fourth round of the Qingyun Sect's examination," one said.
"Indeed, that saying is true, 'True gold shines no matter where it is,'" another added.
After everyone talked about their own situations and heard that Lu Changsheng had become an Elementary Talisman Master and obtained a Third Level Energy Refinement Cultivation Level from being a son-in-law, they were all extremely astonished.
Han Lin even voiced his amazement, revealing a piece of information.
"Hmm? So Lu, you were actually the first in the 'Test of Conscience' during the fourth round of the Immortal Sect exams?" said Hong Yi, along with other people, all turning with surprised glances.
"That's right, after I became an apprentice Artifact Refiner, I happened to meet a senior brother from the exams and inquired about why Changsheng wasn't selected."
"This senior brother also remembered Changsheng and said that if it weren't for his Ninth Grade Spiritual Root and older age, he definitely could have entered Qingyun Sect based on his performance at the Test of Conscience," said Han Lin with a touch of regret.
"It's a bit of a pity."
Li Feiyu also felt sorry for Lu Changsheng.
The others nodded slightly, feeling it was quite regrettable.
Even if Lu Changsheng had achieved so much in three years, astonishing everyone, they still felt it wasn't as good as entering Qingyun Sect and becoming a disciple of the Immortal Sects.
"There's nothing to regret, I think things are pretty good as they are," replied Lu Changsheng upon hearing this news, without any apparent regret or pity.
If he had been accepted into Qingyun Sect, he would certainly spend several years accumulating before he would consider getting married and starting a family.
In such a case, a lot of time and years would have slipped by, and it wouldn't necessarily be much better than his current situation.
"Exactly, with Brother Lu's talent and intelligence, he can shine anywhere," said Hong Yi immediately, trying to smooth things over as they resumed eating, drinking, and chatting.
The protagonist of this gathering was originally supposed to be Xiao Xiyue.
But Lu Changsheng, who had the worst conditions three years ago, seemed to take on a somewhat leading role in this gathering.
Thus, the six of them spent a day together; then, under the leadership of Hong Yi, they spent a day exploring Ruyi Prefecture, made a ten-year pledge, and then bid each other farewell.
Xiao Xiyue, Zhao Qingqing, and Han Lin, aside from attending the gathering, like Lu Changsheng and Li Feiyu, were also returning home to visit their families.
However, Lu Changsheng was not in a rush to return.
He asked Li Feiyu to go back first, and he would visit him at the Crimson Whale Gang later.
This trip out, he wanted to find a place to sell the talismans he carried and to purchase materials for upper-grade and supreme talismans.
He asked Hong Yi where nearby he could find a Cultivation Marketplace for trading.
Hong Yi told him that there were basically no Cultivation Marketplaces in the secular world, just some places where Loose Cultivators gathered.
These Loose Cultivator gathering spots also held trade meets from time to time, and he offered to see if he could find out about any taking place in the next few days and get back to him.
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